They've been paid for since 1982, they've never needed repair, and they still work.

I'd like to play around with some newer gear with (supposed?) improvements, but I can't really bring myself to throw down for it, given the above. I'm sure I'd like the new stuff at least as much, if not more.

What about the nylon webbing on my rigid stems? You think it's safe to climb on 20 year old nylon webbing that never has been used. It looks brand new. Supposedly nylon, even when never used has a max life expectancy of 5 years. What you think?

The RSF that I have are the older ones prior to the "Forged Friends". My RSF are all tied off with Gunks tie-off using 5mm Tech cord. I still love 'em - except for the #1

But, I'm curious about the Forged Friends. Isn't the cross section different where you would make the Gunks tie off? If i remember correctly, there was a slot forged on each side of the stem where the lightening holes are and where you would add the 5mm cord.

The RSF that I have are the older ones prior to the "Forged Friends". My RSF are all tied off with Gunks tie-off using 5mm Tech cord. I still love 'em - except for the #1 But, I'm curious about the Forged Friends. Isn't the cross section different where you would make the Gunks tie off? If i remember correctly, there was a slot forged on each side of the stem where the lightening holes are and where you would add the 5mm cord. Don't those slots create a thinner cross section (read: sharper edge) where the lightening holes are?

Geez, I think now I'll send mine off to be re-slung, I never did the tie off deal either and led a lot of trad, didn't seem to be a problem. Who does folks recommend for re-slinging RSF Metolius did a superb job on my TCU's but they only sling their own products.

Alex S.: Nylon loses strength just by being around so long, and won't show it until you pull-test it to failure. Get those buggers reslung. Cheap life insurance.

dancesatmoonrise: I liked the Saddle Wedges so much, I still have nearly a full set, and that great pamphlet, too. Chockcraft may be a dying art, but so are cursive writing and being able to spell. They're all still useful.

We still have and use RSFs, including some first-generation, nutted-axle numbers. They work great! As the trigger wires break, though, they may perforce get turned into paperweights. Damn.

We still have and use RSFs, including some first-generation, nutted-axle numbers. They work great! As the trigger wires break, though, they may perforce get turned into paperweights. Damn.

Flynn: It's pretty easy to repair the trigger wires. For tools all you need are pliers and diagonal cutters. Wire and crimps are available at bait and tackle shops. I've used small copper tubing for crimps and guitar string or bicycle cable for wire.

Over in the UK forums they talk about using plastic "strimmer" (weed whacker) cord and melting the ends to make a "blob". They claim it lasts a long time. But, I haven't seen the thin (1-1.5mm) weed whacker cord here in the States.

This thread makes me regret selling my forged rigid friends. :-( That said I like my cams, and I love Totems! I've never seen something grip as well as a Totem cam.

What, you're saying that totems don't pull out as much as your other cams? How often have you had failures with other cams?

The bit that rgold and others mentioned about tied off rigid friends being more stable in some horizontal placements is interesting; I'd not considered that before. But, that benefit has nothing to do with them being rigid, and everything to do with them being possible to move the load from the end of the stem up to the head of the cam, right? So, if some other manufacturer could make regular, modern, flexi-stem cams that were possible to tie off at the head, those would probably still be superior to rigid friends, right?

And I agree that the biggest advantages of rigid friends are that they are/were cheap, and not heartbreaking to leave on a route. I have two sets, that never get used unless I'm going to the Creek.

What, you're saying that totems don't pull out as much as your other cams? How often have you had failures with other cams? The bit that rgold and others mentioned about tied off rigid friends being more stable in some horizontal placements is interesting; I'd not considered that before. But, that benefit has nothing to do with them being rigid, and everything to do with them being possible to move the load from the end of the stem up to the head of the cam, right? So, if some other manufacturer could make regular, modern, flexi-stem cams that were possible to tie off at the head, those would probably still be superior to rigid friends, right?

The way I understand it, the rigid stem provides more leverage in a horizontal placement than a flexi stem. So simply adding a tie off point closer to the cam head of a flexi cam would not accomplish the same thing.

Of course I'm relatively uneducated compared to the people who are still following this thread - so maybe I misunderstood.